'Mo Salah the inspiration' - the media on LFC 4-1 Cardiff

Liverpool secured top spot in the Premier League after a 4-1 win over Cardiff City at Anfield on Saturday.

Sadio Mane netted twice with Mohamed Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri on the mark.

Here’s what the media made of the display…

James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

So much for that 'one-season wonder' tag. The Kop's Egyptian king is ruling the Premier League once again. After a month-long drought and growing concerns about his lack of sparkle, Mohamed Salah has enjoyed a week to cherish. Three games, four goals - belief well and truly restored. The self-appointed body language experts can take the day off. The beaming smile as he accepted the adulation of Anfield told you everything you needed to know. This is home for Salah and it's the place where he has taken the fast-track to global stardom. Fresh from reaching a half century of goals for the Reds quicker than anyone in the club's history with a double against Red Star Belgrade in midweek, Salah provided the inspiration for an ultimately emphatic victory over Cardiff City. What a week it's been for Klopp - three cherished victories maintaining momentum and the Reds clicking once again as an attacking force. If Salah's contribution has been the undoubted highlight, the manner in which Mane and Shaqiri have stepped up and delivered also bodes well for the challenges ahead. From going seven games without finding the net, Mane now has three goals in two with this classy double putting him just one behind Eden Hazard in the race for the Golden Boot. Shaqiri simply goes from strength to strength. He's been a revelation since arriving from Stoke. The little Swiss magician was unfortunate to lose his place in the starting line up given his impact against Huddersfield and Red Star. But after coming off the bench he simply showed Anfield what they had been missing.

Neil Jones, Goal.com

The Reds sit, temporarily at least, top of the Premier League table after extending their unbeaten start to the season to 10 games. Cardiff City, durable, committed but entirely second-best, were Anfield’s latest victim. It wasn’t the prettiest – it was never likely to be against a Neil Warnock side, in truth – but Klopp’s men continue to get the job done, and in the end this one was comfortable. Mohamed Salah led the way with a goal and two assists, while Sadio Mane bagged a brace of his own. Xherdan Shaqiri’s first Reds goal made it a perfect afternoon, after Callum Paterson’s goal for the visitors had briefly halved the deficit to 2-1. It was also the first league goal Liverpool have conceded at home in 918 minutes, a run which stretched all the way back to February. No drama, Liverpool remain in a strong position, three clear at the top ahead of a testing trip to the capital for City, their fellow pace-setters. How Klopp would love Spurs to bring their A-game to that contest. For now, though, he can reflect on his own side, and their ability to keep moving forwards. This was their third win since the international break, and confidence is growing. Their forwards are scoring, their defence, one slip here aside, are shining and their midfield, with Fabinho again impressive, does a bit of everything. They’re turning into some team. How pleasing it will be to see the goals return, too. That’s eight in the space of three days now; for all the talk of Liverpool’s front three struggling for form this season, it is worth noting that they have combined more goals in the club’s opening 14 games of this season (18) than they did last term. Salah and Mane, with seven each, are battling it out for top dog status.

Jack Watson, Independent

Liverpool’s win puts them at the top of the table, at least until when Manchester City play Tottenham on Monday, and it’s time to start taking their title ambitions seriously. At this stage last season Liverpool had just 16 points (26 this year) and had conceded 16 (4), this alone stands credit to the work and recruitment that has gone into improving this side over the summer and there is little reason to doubt that they will finish at least in the top two. Klopp has been delighted with some of Liverpool’s slim victories and this match is the latest game to show that his side can win in various ways, which puts them in good place to challenge Manchester City. Fabinho has been a peripheral figure since joining Liverpool from Monaco in the summer, but his impressive performance against Red Star Belgrade earned him a place against Cardiff and his first start in the Premier League. “He is a really nice footballer and that helped,” said Klopp after the Champions League win. “I thought he did really well.” The Brazilian continued his good form against Cardiff and provided a useful base to the midfield to give the attacking players freedom to operate in front of him. His tackled were well timed, interceptions were intelligent and he rarely misplaced a pass as he dictated play from deep.

Andy Hunter, Guardian

Liverpool were so dominant, their return to the Premier League summit a foregone conclusion for 80 minutes, that it amounted to a shock when Cardiff City became the first opposition side since February to score a league goal at Anfield. Liverpool enjoyed 86 per cent possession and completed 412 passes to Cardiff’s 35 in a ridiculously one-sided first half where the only topic of note was their inability to add to Salah’s opener. Given the hosts’ control and the Egypt international’s remarkable goalscoring record at Anfield it was no surprise when he pounced to give Liverpool a 10th-minute lead, although it was out of context with Cardiff’s belligerent defensive display before the break. The in-form Shaqiri, rested for Adam Lallana, injected greater urgency into Liverpool’s attack and scored a fine third late on.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.